It's a cohort program, so all 35 (I'm assuming--that's how many they take each year) of us will be automatically enrolled into three, 3-unit classes, and one, 1-unit class regarding use of the technology required for the program. It needs to be done in the first four weeks of the semester. So I don't really need to think about registration, now or going forward. We'll all be registered for the same classes from here on in. Our internships will probably all be different, but enrollment in the Internship class will be the same for all of us.
There are two online lectures coming up this week, one is on using a particular program, and the second is on Cloud Computing. I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around this concept--I'm not sure how it's different from servers--so my plan is to watch the lecture.
Also, I'm interested to see how much it's going to cost me. The university is unable to give me an answer as the state is still waiting on a budget. The quoted price may, and most likely will, go up. So I'm not sure how much debt I'll be going into. That's right; I got only loans. I applied after the FAFSA initial deadline of March 2, so it was either accept the loans or wait another year. "Hey," to paraphrase Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinnie, "my clock is tickin' here!!" I want to jump right in. I feel ready. Of course, one is never really ready for something this big, but one must keep an open mind, ask questions, and look to those with more expertise or knowledge than one has.
This is true of school or work. I would've never made it at my last job without my BFF. She had a photographic memory. Has. I was able to sit with her and take exact, detailed notes of how to use the complex database that everyone hated. Showing me once does not work. So I found someone who could help me. I bought her lunch several times, but the truth is she was glad to do it and we're still friends.
So my plan is to take lot's of notes, print things out if it will help, talk to my cohorts and especially my professors and advisor. Just like I did as an undergrad. It took me a while to figure out that professors truly want to see us all succeed--and were not just big boulders on the pathway of life. I think it took me all of community college to figure that out. I visited my professors in their office only three times at community college. And probably all my last semester. I had associated "office hours" to "being sent to the principal's office, aka, 'the office.'" You know, in trouble. I took full advantage of office hours at Chico State if I needed them. This will be true more than ever as a grad student. (I still can't believe that I'm using those words. LOL).
I did consider some online universities before I chose this program. I was especially interested in Walden University. Aside from the cool name, they are accredited. They are expensive, however. Also, don't ask for any information, though, because they will spam the hell out of you.
I also considered University of Phoenix, pricey and has a reputation as a diploma-mill (correct me if I am wrong); National, and DeVry (they have non-technical majors, also). I was just spinning the college wheel, thinking.
But now that I've selected, enrolled, and signed up for lot's of debt (I'll probably die before I pay it off LOL), I am nervously excited.
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UPDATE: Tues 12:30pm
Both classes tonight are at the same time. WTH? I guess I'll skip the Cloud lecture because the other has more immediate relevance. Who planned this? Maybe it'll be stored and I can watch it later. Huh.
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